New York offers Xmas value

New York is the best city for Christmas shopping this year with bargain prices and hotel rooms available through most of December.

The prices in New York's department stores are 20% lower than those in London and significantly cheaper than other European cities, according to a survey by American Express.

The city suffered a slump in visitors after the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre and the recovery has been slow. Ian Ackland, cities product manager for Cresta, said: "New York fell from eighth to 18th in our list of top-selling destinations in 2001. In a normal year, you cannot find a room in the run-up to Christmas. This year, rooms are available even at the cheaper end of the scale."

American Express compared the price of a package of items: a top CD, DVD, perfume, Levi jeans and a Microsoft Xbox in New York, London, Paris, Berlin and Milan. London was the most expensive, at £317 compared with an equivalent £244 in New York. There was little variation in the European cities, which were around 4% cheaper than London.

Cresta offers two nights at the three-star Metro hotel for £495 including flights. American Express has two nights at the boutique Time hotel, off Broadway, for £492.

Other cities to offer good value this year include Stockholm, which has Christmas markets in the old town and at the Skansen open-air museum: Cresta offers four nights at the designer Birger Jarl hotel for £199 including flights (a saving of £129).

Milan and Copenhagen are the European hotspots recommended by Travelscene. Three nights in Milan cost from £262, while two nights in Copenhagen, where the Tivoli park becomes a Christmas market, start at £199.